Robert Youngstrom and Mary Youngstrom Stunz
During his years as associate director of Extension at the University of Idaho, Carol O. Youngstrom was a consistent supporter of 4-H programs, said his son, Robert C. Youngstrom ’57, ’61, Boise, and daughter Mary Youngstrom Stunz ’61, who lives in California’s Sacramento area.
The siblings, interviewed on campus in September 2012, have each given $100,000 to establish the Youngstrom 4-H Faculty Excellence Endowment honoring their parents, the late Carol O. and Elizabeth E. Youngstrom.
Their gifts help launch 4-H’s efforts to raise $1 million for the 4-H Foundation, which would bring the total of the Friends of 4-H Endowment to more than $3 million. Interest earned from the endowment provides college scholarships for 4-H youth, helps low-income 4-H members attend state and national events, and awards county 4-H leaders with numerous opportunities to initiate and sustain youth programming.
Carol O. Youngstrom, who was raised in Culver, Oregon, began 40 years of service to the university in 1929 as an assistant agricultural economist. In 1939, the family moved to Boise where, in 1944, he became associate director of the Extension service, a position he held until his retirement in 1969.
“Both Mom and Dad believed in the value of 4-H and were early contributors to 4-H’s endowment,” Robert said.
“Both were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2002,” added Mary. “Mother served as honorary co-chair of the Idaho 4-H Endowment Campaign in 2002 to ’03. We’re pleased to be able to honor our parents in this way. Dad was an Idaho advocate. He knew everybody in agriculture. He was so good in Extension because he paid attention to legislators and to all people.”
Robert, a lawyer, spent much of his life as an Idaho Industrial Commission hearing officer where he heard workers compensation claims and unemployment insurance appeals. Mary, a graduate of the College of Education, married Harry Stunz '61, a dentist. They raised two sons in California, and now she is enjoying her grandchildren there, one of whom is showing an interest in attending the U of I.
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Enter one or more of the following funds as the designation for your gift:
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences CALS Excellence Fund
- Weed Science Graduate Student Endowment
- John and Barbara Foltz CALS Ambassador Endowment
- 4-H Excellence Fund
- Steer-A-Year / Animal and Veterinary Science
—from the Winter 2012 issue of CALS' Programs and People magazine